Magnetic card readout machine and cards therefor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a novel combination of a plural speed card readout machine and cards for use therewith. The new cards each have a known magnetic media stripe and a notched leading edge operatively associated with switch means on the machine. The machine accepts the card along with prior art cards having straight leading edges and transports the cards at different preset rates of speed depending on the rate at which the card was transported when recorded. The notched leading edge of the new card actuates switches of a control circuit of the transport machine in different sequences so that the machine will transport cards with and without the notched edge at different pre-set rates.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,855,619 Kral et a1. Dec. 17, 1974 [5 MAGNETIC CARD READOUT MACHINE 2,918,656 12/1959 Nolde et a1. 340/l74.l C

AND CARDS THEREFOR 3,292,171 12/1966 Wilson 340/l74.1 R 3,488,867 1/1970 Lyon et al 35/35 C [75] Inventors: Fred Kral, Lake Villa; Robert L.

Powers Palatme both of Primary Examiner-Alfred H. Eddleman [73] Assignee: Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, Attorney, Agent, 0r irm-Jo n e [22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] A N 321,902 Disclosed is a novel combination of a plural speed card readout machine and cards for use therewith. The new cards each have a known magnetic media [52] US. Cl..... 360/73, 35/35 C, 360/88, Stripe and a notched leading edge operatively associ 36mm] ated with switch means on the machine. The machine [51] 'f 5/80 Gllb 15/06 Gllb 15/46 accepts the card along with prior art cards having [58] held of Search 179/1002 straight leading edges and transports the cards at dif- 179/1002 R; 34O/174-l 174-1 ferent pre-set rates of speed depending on the rate at 149 A; 35/35 C; 235/6l-H D which the card was transported when recorded. The notched leading edge of. the new card actuates [56] References cued switches of a control circuit of the transport machine UNITED STATES PATENTS in different sequences so that the machine will trans- 2,254,93-1 9/1941 Bryce 340/1741 c P Cards with and Without the notched edge at 2,722,676 11/1955 Begun IMO/174.1 R ferent pre-set rates. 2,849,542 8/1958 MacChesney..... 179/1002 R 2910,6169 10/1959 Brand 340/1741 R 12 Clams, 4 Drawlng Flgures MAGNETIC CARD READOUT MACHINE AND CARDS THEREFOR BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in teaching devices in the form of audio transducing machines and the like and, more particularly, to a new and improved teaching machine and information cards for use therewith, together providing greater versatility than has been possible in the past with teaching machines and cards of the character described.

Teaching machines employing a feed roller for engaging information cards for feeding the cards through a side channel past a transducing or readout station are known in the art. Generally speaking, such machines transport the information card past a readout or transducing head which reads a sound track containing a magnetic recording of selected audio information. Corresponding and/or complementary information is usually printed on the card to stimulate the student visually at substantially the same time as the student is being stimulated audibly. For use in the existing machines, cards have been recorded for reproduction at a single rate of transport, generally 2- /4 inches per second. For several years, this rate approached a standard in view of technological limitations which caused the sound output at a lower speed to be unacceptable as to fidelity, and higher speeds to be unacceptable due to the maximum length of the audio track for a given card length. The standard cards normally were of uniform generally rectangular size and shape, with generally straight edges.

To provide a card of a given length with increased length of audio information has been a continuing desire for educators. That is, the quantity of audible information from a card of a given length can be increased to nearly double the present quantity if the rate of card transprt is reduced by half. Due to improvements in technology, such cards can be made and machines adapted to accept these cards. Because of the large number of cards and of teaching machines operating at the standard rate for those standard cards currently in the field, it is desirable to enable any new machine to be usable with the older high speed cards as well as with the new low speed cards. Because of the likelihood that the cards will be intermixed during use, it is desirable further that the new machines be capable of distinguishing between older cards and the newer cards, and that the cards be distinguishable to the machine so as to be transported past the transducer or readout head automatically at the rate at which the magnetic material has been recorded on the card.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a teaching machine which can use interchangeable information cards on which the information was recorded at different rates.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved information card which controls its own rate of transportation through a teaching machine capable of distinguishing one card series from another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved teaching machine capable of transporting cards at different rates and for distinguishing at which rate each card is to be transported therethrough.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the above objects and advantages are achieved by the use of an information card generally as is known in the prior art, an information card of the new type having at least one notch on the leading edge thereof, and a machine which will accept the cards. The cards of either class are adapted to be manually moved to a position on the teaching machine wherein the leading edge of the cards are in alignment with portions of a plurality of switches extending into the path of the leading edge of the card. Should a prior art card having a generally straight continuous leading edge be inserted into the machine, the switches will be actuated in a predetermined sequence and the machine will operate at the speed at which these cards were recorded. However, should a new card having a notched leading edge be inserted into the machine, the switches will be actuated in a different sequence and will alter the rate of operation of the machine so that the drive means thereof will transport the new card at a different pre-set rate therefore correlated to the speed at which the cards were recorded. By this arrangement, each card inserted into the machine will cause the machine to drive that card at the rate intended for the card.

As shown herein, the control means for the machine may have various control circuits having holding circuit portions or other conditioning means which will deactivate or render inoperative at least a certain one of the actuatable switches when another of the switches first is actuated, thereby determining the rate of operation of the machine.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a teaching machine embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a portion of an information card, illustrating the notched leading edge thereof, in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of one embodiment of control means circuitry for operating the machine of the present invention at plural speeds; and

FIG. 4 is an alternate form of control means circuitry for operating the machine of the present invention at plural speeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIG. 1, an information card transport mechanism includes first and second portions, generally designated 12 and 14, respectively, of a U-shaped channel, together defining a card guide path. Each channel has side wall portions 16 and a bottom wall portion 18. A feed roller or capstan 20 is located between the first and second channel portions 12 and 14 immediately adjacent the card guide path defined thereby to engage and transport an information card 24 past a transducer or record/reproduce head 26, in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1).

The transducer or record/reproduce head 26 is connected to known recording/reproducing circuitry so that audio information may be recorded on and reproduced from a magnetic media stripe 28 of known mate- 3 rial, which stripe has been applied to the information card 24 in a known manner. The card is formed of cardboard or another support media of suitable material.

When a card 24 is introduced into guide channel 12, capstan is powered to transport the card by a motor 32 connected to a belt 34 and a pulley 38 to which the capstan is drivingly connected. Capstan 20 is located either adjacent a backup roller (not shown) or the transducer 26 which is attached to the frame of the transport mechanism by a bracket 40. To control energization of motor 32 and audio circuitry (not shown), control switch means, generally designated 44 in FIG. 1, is connected electrically therewith. The switch means 44 is arranged to extend into the card guide channel portion 12 into the path of the leading edge 46 of the information card 24 so that the switch means is actuated by the card moving in the guide channel portion 12. v

The switch means 44 actually is physically displaced by the card 24 and thereupon energizes the motor 32 to rotate the capstan 20 and feed the card past the transducer head 26 at one of a plurality of pre-set speeds determined by the sequence of closing of switch portions of the switch means 44. More particularly, the switch means 44 has a pair of switches 46 and 48 connected in circuit with the motor 32. The switches 46 and 48 have conductive ieaf spring type switch contact portions 46a and 48a, respectively, protrudinginto the path of the leading edge 46 of the information card 24. However, the switches are offset relative to each other in the direction of movement of the information card 28 through the machine in the direction of arrow A (FIGS. 1 and 2)) Thus, depending on the configuration of the leading edge 46 of th information card 24, one orthe other of the switch contact portions 46a and 48a may be engaged prior to the other and thereby determine the pre-set speed of operation of the motor 32.

The configuration of the leading edge 24' of the card 24 therefore controls the cards own rate of speed or transport through the teaching machine which, through the switch contacts 460 and 48a, is capable of distinguishing one card series from another. As will be shown hereinafter, means are provided for deactivating or rendering ineffective the second switch (46 or 48) after one of the switches first is actuated by engagement of the leading edge of the card with its respective contact portion.

in the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the machine and the information card 24 are adapted for dual speeds of operation in order to accommodate known prior art information cards having straight continuous leading edges as indicated by the dotted line 50 in FIG. 2 for operating the motor 32 at a relatively high rate of speed, while accommodating a card having a notch, generally designated 52, in accordance with the concepts of the present invention for driving the motor 32 at a relatively slower rate of speed. The relative positioning of the switch contact portions 460 and 48a, and their transverse positioning relative to a moving information card 24, is shown by the schematic rectangles 46a and 48a in FIG. 2. The arrowed dot-dash lines 54 indicate the relative movement of the contact portions as the card 24 moves through the machine in the direction of arrow A.

lt is apparent that should a prior art known card having a straight continuous leading edge 50 be fed through the machine in the direction of arrow A, the leading edge thereof first will come in contact with and displace the contact portion 460 and thereby actuate the switch 46 to the motor 32. The motor, thus, can be actuated at a higher rate of speed, while providing means to deactivate switch 48 as described hereinafter. Vice versa, should an information card 24 made in accordance with the concepts of the present invention with the notch 52 be fed through the machine, the switch contact portion 46a will ride into the notch 52 and the leading edge 46 of the card will make first engagement with switch contact portion 48a to energize the motor 32 at the relatively slower rate of speed, while the switch-46 for switch portion 46a is rendered inoperative by means described hereinafter. The notch 52 must be deep enough to permit the switch contact portion 48a to be engaged and displaced to actuate switch 48 before switch contact portion 460 comes in contact with base edge 56 of the notch 52.

Referring to FIG. 3, one form of control circuit means is shown for operating the motor 32 at dual high and low speeds. Control switches 46 and 48 are shown in conjunction with a motor control circuit, generally designated by the block 58 which includes two separate DC power sources 60 and 62. Power source 60 feeds a solenoid 60a and power source 62 feeds a solenoid 6 2a. With this arrangement, assuming a prior art card is fed through the machine as described above so as to actuate switch 46 first. A normally closed secondary switch 64 permits current from the source 60 to pass in the direction of arrow B through the switch 64, through line 66 in the direction of arrow C, through control switch 46 and line 68 in the direction of arrow D to the solenoid 60a. Solenoid 600 then pulls normally closed switch 70 open to render control switch 48 inactive, through line 72. Solenoid 600 also closes normally open switch 74 so that current from source 62 thereof passes through line 76 in the direction of arrow E to the Hi side of the motor 32 to operate the machine at the faster rate of speed for the prior art information card.

With the circuitry shown in FIG. 3, when the prior art card passes through the machine and comes out of engagement with control switch 46, the normally closed and normally open switches 70 and 74, respectively, will return to the position shown in FIG. 3.

Alternatively, should an information card 24 made in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, with the notch 52, be fed into the machine, control switch 48 will be closed first and an identical sequence of electrical functions will occur, but with solenoid 62a being actuated and control switch 46b rendered inoperative. More particularly, when control switch 48 is closed, current from the source 62 thereof wili pass through a normally closed secondary switch 70, through line 72 and control switch 48, through line 78 to the solenoid 62a to actuate the same. Solenoid 620, as with solenoid 60a, performs two functions. It opens normally closed secondary switch 64 to prevent current from flowing from the source 60 to the control switch 46 and thereby deactivates the control switch 46. The solenoid also closes a secondary switch portion 80 so that current from source 60 may pass through line 82 to the 1.0" side of the motor 32 to operate the machine at the relatively slower rate of speed for the series of cards having the notch 52 and the increased length of audio information.

It should be pointed out at this time that although a machine, card, and two different forms of circuitry are shown for operating the machine at a dual speed for prior art cards and slower rate cards, no limitation is intended thereby because multiple speed machines, plural notched cards, and other circuitry are contemplated by the concepts of the present invention for more than two speeds.

FIG. 4 shows another form of circuitry wherein a single power source is shown for operating the motor 32 at plural preset rates of speed by a pair of switches, generally indicated at S] and S2. Although either of the switches 46, 48 may be used as switches S1, S2 for purposes of this description, switch 46 will be identified as normally open switch S1 and switch 48 will be identified as normally closed switch S2. With this circuitry, should switch S1 be actuated first o as to be closed, current will pass from source 84 through line 90 in the direction of arrow G, through line 92 in the direction of arrow H, and through the normally closed switch S2 to the relay 94. Energization of relay 94 causes an armature arm 96 to move in the direction of arrow l so that its contact portions 96a and 96b make contact at 98a and 981), respectively. Closing of contacts 96a and 98a complete a circuit in the direction of arrow J to establish a holding circuit through relay 94 although switch S2 was open as the leading edge of the card passed thereover. Since this circuit is completed and the solenoid 94 retains the armature at 96 in operative condition between the contacts 96b and 981;, current passing in the direction of arrow G will enter the speed control circuitry and by the path of least resistance will pass along the wire 100 to contacts 98b, 96b and thereafter through wire 101 bask to the motor 32. The motor will be operated at a preset rate for the card inserted into the transport path of the machine. As the end of the card clears the switches S1 and S2 to return these switches to their normal conditions, the holding circuit will be de-energized and the control circuit will likewise be energized to enable the next card introduced to establish its own preset rate of transport.

With the circuitry shown in FIG. 4, should the shape of the leading edge of the card be such that the switch S2 as above identified is engaged prior to switch S1, the normally closed switch S2 opens the circuit to the relay 94 to prevent the establishment of a holding circuit. Thence, relay 94 is not actuated and therefore the armature 96 is not caused to complete circuits 96a-98a and 96b-98b. By the subsequent closing of switch S1 which causes energizing of the motor along line 90 in the direction of arrow G, the motor operates at a different preset rate than the prior circuit due to the insertion of a resistor 110 in the circuit. Should the notch be selected for a reverse in the rate of card transport as compared to a non-notched card, the switches might be reversed or the circuit including the resistor may be reversed whereby proper selection of the speed of the motor 32 will be appropriate for the card being transported by the machine. Since switch S1 is selected as the main power switch, this switch may also be wired to turn on and off'other circuitry of the machine as required for example for amplifiers and lights to indicate the rate of transit of a card and/or to indicate the function of other circuitry of the machine.

It is to be understood that the embodiment shown is illustrative of the principle of operation of a magnetic card read out machine and that certain changes, alterations, modifications or substitutions may be made to the structure of the device without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. The combination of a plural speed card readout machine and cards for use therewith, the machine comprising:

plural speed drive means for transporting one of said cardsalong a card guide path past transducing means;

electrical control means for operating said drive means at a plurality of selected pre-set different speeds, including a plurality of switch means at said card guide path for actuation in a plurality of different sequences to determine the operating speed of said drive means; and

the card comprising:

a support media transportable by said drive means along said card guide path through said machine;

magnetic media carried on said support media for being transduced at a selected of-a plurality of preset drive speeds; and means on said support media for actuating said switch means in a predetermined sequence to operate said drive means at a speed corresponding to the proper transducing speed of the magnetic media on the respective card. 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means is disposed along an edge of the support media.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said actuating means on said support media comprises irregular edge surface means shaped to engage and thereby actuate said plurality of switch means in a particular sequence which is a function of the shape of said irregular edge surface means.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said irregular edge surface means includes at least one notch aligned with at least one of said plurality of switch means.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said irregular edge surface means is disposed on the leading edge of said support media.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said support media is a generally rectangular card having a leading edge extending generally transversely of the direction of travel of the card through the machine, and said irregular edge surface means is formed on said leading edge.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said plurality of switch means comprise a plurality of switches having portions extending into the path of said leading edge of a card, the switch portions being disposed for engaging different transverse portions of the cards leading edge.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the leading edge of the card includes at least one notch aligned with at least one of said switch portions to engage the switch portion at a later point in time than at least one other switch.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein at least one of said switch portions is offset in the direction of travel of the card so that it is engaged at a different point in time than another switch portion for determining a particular transducing speed when a card having a straight leading edge is transported through the machine.

10. The combination of claim 3 wherein said electrical control means includes conditioning means to deactivate at least a certain one of said plurality of switch means when another of said switch means first is actuated.

11. A magnetic record member for use in an audio teaching machine having drive means operable at selected of a plurality of pre-set drive speeds for causing transducing of information recorded at one of the plurality of speeds on the magnetic media of the member, the record member comprising:

a card transportable along a card guide path through the machine to energize the machine at a selected of said plurality of pre-set drive speeds;

magnetic media carried on said card for being transchine at a predetermined speed. 

1. The combination of a plural speed card readout machine and cards for use therewith, the machine comprising: plural speed drive means for transporting one of said cards along a card guide path past transducing means; electrical control means for operating said drive means at a plurality of selected pre-set different speeds, including a plurality of switch means at said card guide path for actuation in a plurality of different sequences to determine the operating speed of said drive means; and the card comprising: a support media transportable by said drive means along said card guide path through said machine; magnetic media carried on said support media for being transduced at a selected of a plurality of pre-set drive speeds; and means on said support media for actuating said switch means in a predetermined sequence to operate said drive means at a speed corresponding to the proper transducing speed of the magnetic media on the respective card.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means is disposed along an edge of the support media.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said actuating means on said support media comprises irregular edge surface means shaped to engage and thereby actuate said plurality of switch means in a particular sequence which is a function of the shape of said irregular edge surface means.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said irregular edge surface means includes at least one notch aligned with at least one of said plurality of switch means.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said irregular edge surface means is disposed on the leading edge of said support media.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said support media is a generally rectangular card having a leading edge extending generally transversely of the direction of travel of the card through the machine, and said irregular edge surface means is formed on said leading edge.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said plurality of switch means comprise a plurality of switches having portions extending into the path of said leading edge of a card, the switch portions being disposed for engaging different transverse portions of the card''s leading edge.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the leading edge of the card includes at least one notch aligned with at least one of said switch portions to engage the switch portion at a later point in time than at least one other switch.
 9. The combination of claim 7 wherein at least one of said switch portions is offset in the direction of travel of the card so that it is engaged at a different point in time than another switch portion for determining a particular transducing speed when a card having a straight leading edge is transported through the machine.
 10. The combination of claim 3 wherein said electrical control means includes conditioning means to deactivate at least a certain one of said plurality of switch means when another of said switch means first is actuated.
 11. A magnetic record member for use in an audio teaching machine having drive means operable at selected of a plurality of pre-set drive speeds for causing transducing of information recorded at one of the plurality of speeds on the magnetic media of the member, the record member comprising: a card transportable along a card guide path through the machine to energize the machine at a selected of said plurality of pre-set drive speeds; magnetic media carried on said card for being transduced at a selected one of said plurality of pre-set drive speeds; and actuating means defined along an edge of said card for physically engaging and actuating control components of the machine to drive the machine at a selected speed corresponding to the proper transducing speed of the magnetic media on the respective card.
 12. The magnetic record member of claim 11 wherein the leading edge of said card has irregular surface means for engaging the machine''s control components in a predetermined sequence to operate the machine at a predetermined speed. 